balloonflower
Chirping
- Jul 25, 2016
- 310
- 46
- 86
So, I've posted a bit on a couple other threads, but I'll do a quick intro. I have had three Silver Fox buns for a little over a month now, and enjoying it. I did as much research as I could, and now to the point where practical experience and screwups will teach now. For getting started, we have a pretty small setup, so the plan is to only breed one doe at a time due to space and limited growout cages. The does are just over 6 months old, and I was planning to breed one as soon as I had a scale for weighing them first, and a larger kindling cage built (supplies are on the way and expected toward the end of the month). One of my previous queries in another rabbit thread had been about breeding age for SF's, which I have read different answers for--sometimes 6mo as mine are and sometimes as late as 9mo to allow for full growth before breeding. So I figure I would try one sooner, and have data to compare when I breed the other one later.
Well, then the practicality of learning from mistakes comes in...a couple weeks ago my husband was supervising some grooming with our daughters, age 6 & 7. So he brought George and Apple in and left them with the girls while he went looking for something in the garage. Sure enough (and I can't blame him, because I've had a mixed pair out at the same time too) pretty soon my younger comes running to the kitchen--"Mom, come quick! They're fighting!" And nope--not fighting.
So, I've been waiting for the point where I could try and detect pregnancy. We got our new hanging scale last week, but don't have a pre-breeding weight for comparison. The two does are sisters, so should be similar but I wouldn't expect them to be exact. I also don't have my cage supplies to make the little wire basket I have planned for weighing. So, we improvised. I'm not sure what the buns thought of being put in a bucket, but we got some weights yesterday (12 days after the oopsie). Apple weighs half a pound more than sis Paws. Interesting, but not completely conclusive--the Storey's guide seemed to say there should be about a pound difference. I'll continue weighing about every week and see what happens.
Next test--putting Apple back in with George to see how she reacts--if she growled and resisted mating. The book did mention that it doesn't work with all females, and there was no growling or fuss at all. In fact George was busy before we even had the cage door shut and Apple didn't seem to care. I don't think I was expecting that fast! So, if Apple wasn't expecting before, she is probably now.
Last, attempted palpation. Now, DH has been telling me for days now that he thought Apple's tummy was much firmer than Paws'. So we tried feeling for the "necklace". I honestly can't say that I felt any difference between the two girls, so we'll have to do that again in a few days.
And now to the impatient watching and waiting stage. I made sure to record the dates of the two mating sessions, and have notifications in my calendar to have the nesting box ready (even if the larger cage may not be by the earlier date). And here we go!
Well, then the practicality of learning from mistakes comes in...a couple weeks ago my husband was supervising some grooming with our daughters, age 6 & 7. So he brought George and Apple in and left them with the girls while he went looking for something in the garage. Sure enough (and I can't blame him, because I've had a mixed pair out at the same time too) pretty soon my younger comes running to the kitchen--"Mom, come quick! They're fighting!" And nope--not fighting.
So, I've been waiting for the point where I could try and detect pregnancy. We got our new hanging scale last week, but don't have a pre-breeding weight for comparison. The two does are sisters, so should be similar but I wouldn't expect them to be exact. I also don't have my cage supplies to make the little wire basket I have planned for weighing. So, we improvised. I'm not sure what the buns thought of being put in a bucket, but we got some weights yesterday (12 days after the oopsie). Apple weighs half a pound more than sis Paws. Interesting, but not completely conclusive--the Storey's guide seemed to say there should be about a pound difference. I'll continue weighing about every week and see what happens.
Next test--putting Apple back in with George to see how she reacts--if she growled and resisted mating. The book did mention that it doesn't work with all females, and there was no growling or fuss at all. In fact George was busy before we even had the cage door shut and Apple didn't seem to care. I don't think I was expecting that fast! So, if Apple wasn't expecting before, she is probably now.
Last, attempted palpation. Now, DH has been telling me for days now that he thought Apple's tummy was much firmer than Paws'. So we tried feeling for the "necklace". I honestly can't say that I felt any difference between the two girls, so we'll have to do that again in a few days.
And now to the impatient watching and waiting stage. I made sure to record the dates of the two mating sessions, and have notifications in my calendar to have the nesting box ready (even if the larger cage may not be by the earlier date). And here we go!
